Tony Blair has apologised for mistakes in pre-war intelligence on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction but has denied deliberately deceiving anyone.

The prime minister came under further pressure from Tory leader Michael Howard who urged him to apologise for misrepresenting the intelligence.

Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy accused him of waging an illegal war.

Mr Blair accused the Tories of "playing politics" and said the Lib Dems would have left Saddam Hussein in power.

The clashes follow the withdrawal of the claim Iraq could use the weapons at 45 minutes' notice.

Moral case?

At the first prime minister's questions since Parliament's conference break, Mr Howard said the intelligence services had said little was known about Iraq's chemical and biological programmes since 1998.

And yet Mr Blair had told the country it was "beyond doubt" that Saddam Hussein had continued to produce those weapons.

Mr Howard, who said he still backed the war, added: "How can the prime minister maintain he accurately reported the intelligence to the country. Why won't he say sorry for that."

The chief of the Secret Intelligence Service has written to the Intelligence and Security Committee formally withdrawing [it]